The original version of Karateka launched on an Apple II two decades ago and helped show that video game design could deliver idiosyncratic, narrative experiences. Back then, both Apple and video games were in their toddler stage, stumbling around trying to figure out what they could do.

Gamers of a certain age remember the dramatic opening to Jordan Mechner's classic fighting adventure. But what happened before our hero stormed Akuma's castle? How'd he learn how to fight? The video—which hypes up today's release of a Karateka re-make— above answers some of those questions in really funny fashion.…

While the majority of Jordan Mechner's talk at Comic-Con earlier today focused on all things Prince of Persia, some fans veered slightly off-topic, picking the programmer's brain on his other titles — Karateka and The Last Express. The former, Mechner's first commercial game, an early 2D fighter published by…